S in F M AD 1867
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Gala Concert & British Premiere of the recently discovered 19th century masterpiece Dedicated to His Majesty Don Luis I, King of Portugal ass in F M AD 1867 FOUR VOICES & CHORUS with accompaniment for the organ, harmonium or pianoforte COMPOSED BY Prince Joseph Poniatowski 27th June 2015 Westminster Cathedral Hall 1 H. M. Stanisław August Poniatowski, last King of Poland Stanisław Poniatowski (1667–1762) Casimir Stanislaus August Andrew Michael (1721–1781) (1732–1798) (1735–1773) (1736–1794) Cancellor of Poland Last King of Poland General in Austrian Army Archibishop of Gniezno (1764–1795) Primate of Poland Stanislaw Jozef Antoni (1757–1833) (1763–1813) Treasurer of Lithuania Field Marshal in Napoleon’s Army Jozef Michal Ksawery Franciszek Jan Poniatowski (1816–1873) Born in Rome: Giuseppe Michele Severio Francesco Luci, Principe di Monte Rotondo, Tuscan Plenipotentiary (Brussels 1849, London 1850–53, Paris 1854), Senator French Parliament (1854–1871). Opera Tenor and Composer of 12 Operas and Mass in F In the presence of His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols The Association of Polish Knights of Malta UK supported by The Polish Heritage Society UK and The Embassy of the Republic of Poland presents: Prince Joseph Poniatowski’s Mass in F under the Patronage of His Excellency Mr Witold Sobków Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of The Republic of Poland to The Court of St. James’s ARCHBISHOP’S HOUSE, WESTMINSTER, LONDON SW1P 1QJ Dear Friends, It is a privilege that tonight for the first time Prince Josef Poniatowski’s Mass in “F” is going to be performed here in Westminster Cathedral Hall in London. When I was approached by the Polish Knights of Malta UK and The Polish Heritage Society UK to be Patron of this historic event, I accepted immediately. I look forward to hearing this newly discovered piece of truly European music. I hope that it will serve to deepen our love of the Lord who gives himself to us without reserve in every celebration of Holy Mass. I wish the artists appearing tonight all success, and congratulate the organisers on reaching great heights in the attainment of their charitable objective. I wish you all a splendid evening. May God bless you all. +Vincent Nichols Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster 4 It is a great pleasure to be involved with The Polish Knights of Malta and The Polish Heritage Society on a project devoted to commemorating and promoting the vivid contribution of Poles to international cultural and historical heritage in the UK. The unexpected discovery of Prince Josef Poniatowski’s Mass in ‘F’ has lead to the hosting of the British Premiere in Westminster Cathedral Hall, providing a forum to present the music of this great man to a new generation of music lovers. The Mass in ‘F’ was written and dedicated to the King of Portugal. It will be performed by an international cast from countries connected with Prince Josef Poniatowski’s life, as a true homage to Europe’s musical culture. The Embassy of the Republic of Poland is proud to support these endeavours particularly as all proceeds from this concert are going directly to the Hospital for the Incurable in Barczewo, Poland. I would like to take this opportunity to thank The Polish Knights of Malta and The Polish Heritage Society for giving freely of their time, skills and talents. I wish you all a most enjoyable musical evening. Mr. Witold Sobków The Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Court of St James in London 5 Dear Friends, In 2013 the Polish Heritage Society UK discovered and restored the dilapidated grave of the composer, Prince Joseph Poniatowski, (1816 Rome – 1873 Kent). This was followed by a concert of his opera arias in March 2014 at The Polish Embassy, received with great acclaim. Subsequent research into the life of Prince Poniatowski led to the discovery of his Mass in F, which was written in the Bel Canto style. The Mass in F was dedicated to His Majesty Don Luis I, King of Portugal The Association of the Polish Knights of Malta (UK) supported by The Polish Heritage Society (UK) decided to help bring this historic composition to London in 2015. Today, June 27th, the Gala Concert and British Premiere of the Mass in F will be held at Westminster Cathedral Hall. It promises to be a unique musical experience. The Mass in F features both Latin and English liturgical texts. There is an international cast inclusive of four voices representing the countries of the composer’s birth, life and death. The choir and a pianoforte will be under the baton of the English International conductor, Stephen Ellery. Prince Poniatowski was born in Rome. He worked in Paris as an Honorary Senator, during the times of Napoleon III and as head of The Theatre Lyrique. After the Franco-Prussian war, Napoleon III had to leave France for exile in England and was accompanied by Prince Poniatowski. They both lived in Chislehurst, Kent where Prince Poniatowski spent his last 2 years. Our charitable goal is to raise funds for the Polish Association of the Knights of Malta’s Hospital in Barczewo in Poland, in order to provide much needed medical equipment. Dr Mark Stella-Sawicki MBE KM Chairman, Association of the Polish Knights of Malta (UK) Registered Charity No. 1102122 www.apkmuk.co.uk 6 Prince Poniatowski as a composer in the Bel Canto Style of Romantic Opera and the Mass in F Following on from the discovery of the historic grave of Prince Poniatowski in Chisle- hurst, The Polish Heritage Society UK, in partnership with The Embassy of the Republic of Poland and Father Briggs, the Parish Priest of St Mary’s R.C. Church in Chislehurst, undertook its entire restoration. Prince Poniatowski, (1816–1873), son of Stanisław Poniatowski and Cassandra Luci, is well known in Italy and France as a composer of the romantic generation, six years younger than Fryderyk Chopin and three years younger than Giuseppe Verdi. During his life he composed some 12 operas (8 in Italian and 4 in French), performed over the years in La Scala, Milan, the Paris Opera and the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. In London, he staged one of his operas at Covent Garden and like Fryderyk Chopin before him suffered from a spiteful music critique from The Times. His music is in the space of Italian music theatre, with the heritage of Monteverdi, Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini and Giuseppe Verdi. It is distinguished in its diversified melodic instrumentation and falls squarely into the Bel Canto genre. Manuscripts and published works of Prince Poniatowski can be found in the Bibliotheque de l’Opera in Paris, The British Library, major Italian libraries and the National Library in Warsaw where they still await some further research. The most authorative research to date can be found in Professor Golianek’s recently published work in Poland in 20121. Prince Poniatowski was also a politician and he settled in Paris in 1854 where he became plenipotentiary for Grand Duke Leopold II of Tuscany. He was awarded an honorary Senatorship to the French Senate by Napoleon III. The failure of the 1870–71 Franco-Prussian War initiated the end of Napoleon III’s reign in France. When Napoleon III was exiled and left for England, Prince Poniatowski accompanied him. Poniatowski and Napoleon III were buried in St Mary’s R. C. Church Cemetery but later the Empress Eugenie moved the body of her beloved husband to St. Michael’s Abbey in Farnborough. 1 Ryszard Daniel Golianek, Opery Józefa Michała Ksawerego Poniatowskiego, ISBN 978-83-62558-43-8, DUET and Ryszard Daniel Golianek, Toruń 2012 7 Prince Poniatowski’s2 Mass in F The Mass in F by Prince Joseph Poniatowski was composed in Paris in 1867, as confirmed by Professor Ryszard Daniel Golianek, Prince Poniatowski’s biographer3. The Prince was a prominent figure in the political and musical life of Italy, France and finally England, with an illustrious ancestry directly linking him to Stanislaus Augustus, the last King of Poland, whose brother was his grandfather. It is unknown how the dedication of the Mass in F to His Majesty Don Luis I, King of Portugal was initiated, it is probable that Poniatowski in his dual role as the Composer and French Senator could have meet His Majesty Don Luis I on one of his many missions to Europe. The first published edition of Mass in F with the Leon Escudier, the original publisher was between 1867–1870. In the later years, the UK publishers Boosey & Hawkes published this composition in 18764. Professor Golianek’s research has not found any further published editions of the Mass in F. 2 Giulio Carlini 1849, charcoal drawning, Fondazione Levi, Venice 3 Ryszard Daniel Golianek, Opery Józefa Michała Ksawerego Poniatowskiego, ISBN 978-83-62558-43-8 4 Source: Prof. Golianek, correspondence of December 2014 8 Grand Master Philippe Villiers de I’Isle Adam (44th Grand Master, 1521–1534) adoring the Angus Dei to which Saint John the Baptist, the Patron of the Order of Malta is pointing (British Library5). 5 British Library: The Gospel Lectionary, suggested probable French origin and dated at the early sixteenth-century. ©The British Library Board, BL: Add. MSS. 18,143 9 Prince Poniatowski’s Mass in F No. 1 KYRIE Soprano and Chorus No. 2 GLORIA Chorus No. 3 CREDO Soprano, Contralto, Tenor, Bass & Chorus No. 4 SANCTUS Soprano, Contralto, Tenor, Bass & Chorus No. 5 O SALUTARIS Tenor & Baritone No. 6 ANGUS DEI Baritone & Chorus No. 7 AMEN Finale The Mass in F is scored for an Organ, Harmonium or Piano-Forte, Four Voices and Chorus. The vocal forces include soprano, contralto, tenor, and bass soloists and a mixed choir.